Star Wars fans may wish to head with their lightsabers to the Irish county of Kerry in May, when a new festival dedicated to the popular movie franchise makes its debut. The three-day ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ festival takes place from 4 to 6 May across the villages of Ballyferriter, Portmagee, Ballinskelligs and Valentia Island.

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The ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ festival takes place in Kerry in May. Photo by: Tourism Ireland

The festival celebrates Star Wars Day and its links with Kerry. Ireland’s Star Wars journey began in Portmagee in 2014, and spans 2000kms of the Wild Atlantic Way, from the south-western Skellig islands to Ireland’s most northerly point, Malin Head. The savage beauty of Skellig Michael was introduced to the world when Rey finally tracked down the long-lost Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way was catapulted to global fame following the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, with its dramatic coastal scenery wowing millions of Star Wars fans around the world in the box-office smash-hit.

Skellig Michael is a location showcased in the ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ festival in Kerry in May. Photo by: Tourism Ireland

The festival will offer entertainment for all ages. This includes outdoor drive-in movie screenings of Star Wars: The Last Jedi against the backdrop of actual film locations. There are also guided film location walks, children’s workshops, a special céilí (Irish dancing) for Star Wars fans where fancy dress is encouraged, and more. You can also catch behind-the-scenes exhibitions, visit beehive huts and enjoy great tours and tastings, and the fun is all set against the backdrop of the west Kerry coast.

The ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ festival takes place in Kerry in May. Photo by: Tourism Ireland

A full-line-up and further information on the ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ festival is available here.